On one side is Richard Knight, president of the 1,200-member Jane Austen Society and owner of the 50-room Chawton House.

"It'll be good to have more customers on a permanent basis," said Phil Waserman, president of the Byward Market Merchants' Association and owner of the Courtyard Restaurant.

Sayville will come back, said Ann Morrison, president of the Chamber of Commerce and owner of Coni's Lingerie.

Her father is president of Nolan Security in Manhattan and owner of the Weathervane.

Jerome H. Joyce, Sr. (1865 - March 15, 1924) was president of the Aero Club of Baltimore and owner of the Joyce Hotel.

"It surely would look nice downtown," said Deborah Almada, the president of the business group and owner of Debbie's Delights, a restaurant.

"It feels like you're pedaling your couch," said Shelly Mossey, 45, president of the society and owner of three recumbents.

Bob Schmitz, a past president of the Sag Harbor Chamber of Commerce and owner of a local liquor store, also favors the plan.

"We adamantly oppose the transfer tax," said Mary Adams, president of the Long Island Board of Realtors and owner of a Century 21 office in Babylon.

Pascal Olhats, the president of the chef's group and owner of Pascal's, said many previous diners had begun eating at the restaurants of the chefs they had met.